News Feed for Barbara Kuntz - CultureMaphttp://houston.culturemap.com/feeds/author/Barbara_Kuntz/2015-03-31T15:10:01-05:00Helicopter drops 20,000 eggs on the Fifth Ward: The ultimate urban Easter egg hunt?2015-03-31T15:10:01-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/03-31-15-helicopter-drops-20000-eggs-on-the-fifth-ward-the-ultimate-easter-egg-hunt/
<img src="http://media.culturemap.com/crop/1d/48/350x350/Easter-egg-drop-in-Fifth-Ward-at-Lyons-Avenue-Renaissance-Festival-March-2015-Helicopter-Egg-Delievery_125754.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
Easter came early this year to the <a href="https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hpfhk">Fifth Ward</a> when a helicopter dropped 20,000 plastic, goodie-filled eggs during the annual <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LyonsAvenueFestival">Lyons Avenue Renaissance Festival</a>.</p>
<p>
Participants young and old waited as the sky filled with falling eggs to grab as many treats possible when the special holiday surprises landed. The Urban Egg Hunt is now officially part of the festival organized by <a href="http://www.fifthwardcrc.org/index.asp">Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Corp.</a> and <a href="http://www.houstontx.gov/council/b/">Jerry Davis</a>, Houston City Council member.</p>
<p>
Continuing the tradition, fest-goers were treated to three stages of live music and entertainment, a Kid&#39;s Zone, housing fair and health screenings.</p>
<p>
&ldquo;We had a larger turn out this year, which proves we have touched an untapped group of people who are looking for family friendly events,&rdquo; Davis said in a statement. &ldquo;The egg hunt, the Kid&#39;s Zone and the live music gave every family member something to enjoy.</p>
<p>
&quot;Our goal is to celebrate the Fifth Ward while showing people across Houston the great things the neighborhood has to offer right now.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
In addition to the family fun, this year&#39;s celebration followed the theme, &quot;Party with a Purpose&quot; and offered participants the chance to learn from experts about&nbsp;brand new homes being built in the area, new businesses moving into the ward and the opening of the newly renovated <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2014/02/the-show-will-go-on-at-historic-fifth-ward-theater.html">DeLuxe Theater</a>.</p>
<p>
&ldquo;Our goal was to not only entertain, but at the same time, educate people about all the wonderful things we have taking place daily in Fifth Ward,&quot; Kathy Flanagan Payton, CEO of the redevelopment corporation, said.</p>
<p>
<em>Got a great photo of a Houston happening or everyday occurrence? Send it to barbara@culturemap.com, along with details (who, what, where and why it&#39;s special). It might make our Pix of the Day.</em></p>
$3.8 million mega "palace" penthouse emerges as the showpiece of a new condo development near River Oaks2015-03-31T10:41:00-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-31-15-38-million-mega-palace-penthouse-emerges-as-the-showpiece-of-a-new-condo-development-near-river-oaks/
<img src="http://media.culturemap.com/crop/51/f0/350x350/The-Monroe-at-Bayou-Park-rendering-March-2015_081326.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
<a href="http://www.themonroe.com/index.html">The Monroe at Bayou Park</a>, a new $20 million, six-story, luxury mid-rise planned between River Oaks and downtown, promises eight spacious units and a 7,000-square-foot penthouse that marketing materials breathlessly proclaim is &quot;destined to become the single most desirable residence in the storied neighborhood.&quot;</p>
<p>
An&nbsp;<a href="http://www.alrossluxuryhomes.com">Al Ross Luxury Homes</a>&nbsp;project with <a href="http://www.masastudio.net">Masa Studio</a> as architect, the complex 1034&nbsp;Rochow&nbsp;St.,&nbsp;is set to include five floors of 3,400- to 4,000 square-foot condominiums&nbsp;available in two floor plans: Three bedrooms and three and one-half baths or two bedrooms, two and one-half baths and a study.</p>
<p>
The six 3,400-square-foot homes are to extend to 468-square-foot balconies, while the two 4,000-square-foot homes will have 1,000-square-foot terraces.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>The mega-penthouse, which is priced at $3.8 million,&nbsp;occupies the entire sixth floor and is designed as a &quot;tricked-out show palace.&quot;<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
Ten-foot ceilings are planned for all eight residences, as are as hardwood floors, <a href="https://www.miele.com/en/com/index.htm">Miele</a> appliances and <a href="http://eggersmannusa.com">Eggersmann</a> cabinets in the kitchens and balconies. Prices&nbsp;are expected&nbsp;to range from $1.3 million to $1.5 million.</p>
<p>
The mega-penthouse, which is priced at $3.8 million,&nbsp;occupies the entire sixth floor and is designed as a &quot;tricked-out show palace&quot; with such highlights as 12-foot ceilings, exercise room, game room, spacious master suite, Eggersman cabinets in the kitchen and baths and four parking spaces. A a 963-square-foot terrace will offer an outdoor living space.</p>
<p>
The penthouse will come with the services of a full-time housekeeper five days a week for the first year of ownership. The owner will have the opportunity to design and select all finishes. Two floor-plan options are a three-bedroom, four and one-half bath configuration or an arrangement of three bedrooms, two and a half-baths plus a study and exercise room.</p>
<p>
Building plans also include a private ground-floor motorcourt and&nbsp;2,000-square-foot-rooftop with a state-of-the-art summer kitchen and dining terrace, in addition to a fully equipped fitness room on the rooftop with skyline views.</p>
<p>
Sales offices on site open April 8, and a groundbreaking is scheduled for Oct. 1. The plan calls for the first residents to&nbsp;begin moving into their homes in December 2016.</p>
<p>
In addition,&nbsp;Al Ross Luxury Homes is donating $10,000 for every one of his homes sold between now and the end of May to Buffalo Bayou Partnership, the public-private partnership spearheading the park&rsquo;s $58 million upgrade.</p>
<p>
Ross, who has built and sold several upscale spec homes in River Oaks, was born and raised in Iran as RealtyNewsReport.com <a href="http://realtynewsreport.com/2015/03/27/al-ross-building-spec-residential-tower-near-downtown-houston/">details</a>. His parents sent him to the United States when he was 13&nbsp;in search of a better life. He started a business, National Signs, with $200 in his pocket at age 28 and was very successful before selling it in 2011 and launching Al Ross Luxury Homes in 2012.</p>
Sexy Marlowe Man lures condo buyers downtown with those bedroom eyes2015-03-28T13:00:00-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-28-15-sexy-marlowe-man-lures-condo-buyers-downtown-with-those-bedroom-eyes-1/
<img src="http://media.culturemap.com/crop/f3/66/350x350/Marlowe-Houston-20-story-high-rise-ad-campaign-March-2015_111319.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
Move over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlboro_Man">Marlboro Man</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Interesting_Man_in_the_World">The Most Interesting Man in the World</a>.</p>
<p>
There&#39;s a new marketing hunk in town, and Marlowe is his name: A&nbsp;sexy,&nbsp;handsome man with spellbinding eyes ready to swoon you into joining his swanky downtown pad at the proposed&nbsp;20-story <a href="http://www.houstoneb5.com/project_Marlowe.cfm">Marlowe Houston</a> luxury residential tower to be built at 1311 Polk St.</p>
<p>
The initial Marlowe ad campaign, as shown on the property&#39;s <a href="http://meetmarlowe.com">website</a>, states, &quot;Meet Marlowe and his stylized condos.&quot; Modelesque&nbsp;Marlowe, most likely wearing an Armani suit and with a trendy stubble,&nbsp;is staring right at you, giving his best seductive stare.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>&quot;Marlowe is the poster boy for ownership,&quot; Davis says. &quot;Marlowe is smarter than you: He traded rent for ownership.&quot;<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<div>
&quot;Marlowe was created by developer <a href="http://randalldavis.com">Randall Davis</a> and creative director Natalie Davis during a creative brain storm session,&quot; Davis responds to an email from&nbsp;CultureMap. &quot;He naturally came to life, so we decided to run with the concept.&quot;</div>
<p>
Who is this &quot;Marlowe?,&quot; CultureMap asks.</p>
<p>
&quot;Marlowe is the poster boy for ownership,&quot; Davis says. &quot;Marlowe is smarter than you: He traded rent for ownership.&quot;</p>
<p>
Whether the campaign ever reaches the successes of the Marlboro Man or the Dos Equis&nbsp;spokesperson, Marlowe Houston is promising contemporary elegance in one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, as well as seven &quot;exclusive&quot; penthouses in the 100-unit tower over a 162-slot parking garage. Amenities include&nbsp;24-hour concierge, valet parking, fitness center, steam and massage rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness center. <a href="http://www.houstoneb5.com">Houston EB5</a>, a partner in the suave adventure, also mentions on its <a href="http://www.houstoneb5.com/project_Marlowe.cfm">website</a>&nbsp;a &quot;Starlight&quot; pool and hot tub as plans for the property.</p>
<p>
Condo sizes range from 900 square feet for the single bedroom units to 3,000 square feet for the largest apartments, including the penthouses. Prices start at&nbsp;$420,000 and escalate to $1.485 million.</p>
<p>
Estimated groundbreaking is set for June, with projected completion sometime after the 20-month construction period. No total project costs are available at this time, but sales offices open April 1.</p>
<p>
The Marlowe campaign won&#39;t include a female poster girl, Davis says. Marlowe&#39;s the man for the job.</p>
CultureMap's fun-filled Spring Social brings out the smiles in everyone2015-03-27T14:05:30-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/03-27-15-culturemaps-fun-filled-spring-social-brings-out-the-smiles-in-everyone/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/26/Smilebooth-at-CultureMap-spring-social-March-2015_082548.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
Whether it was the fantastic weather, the flowing drinks, the delicious bites or the hopping music, the 200-plus young professionals at CultureMap&#39;s recent <a href="http://houston.culturemap.com/news/society/03-26-15-hot-young-professionals-party-with-an-art-vibe-at-culturemaps-first-social-of-the-year/">spring social</a>&nbsp;were all smiles.</p>
<p>
&nbsp;</p>
Renovated Eastside cottage combines historic details and modern upgrades for under $330,0002015-03-26T15:08:42-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-26-15-renovated-eastside-cottage-combines-historic-details-and-modern-upgrades-for-under-330000-1/
<img src="http://media.culturemap.com/crop/d6/bc/350x350/1-On-the-Market-5226-Mulford-St.-March-2015_074842.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
<em>Editor&#39;s Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses and properties for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap snoops through some of the best and gives you the lowdown on what&#39;s hot on the market.</em></p>
<p>
A doll of a 1930 cottage in historic&nbsp;<a href="http://eastwoodcivicassociation.org">Eastwood</a> hits the market for $329,900 as a lovingly renovated&nbsp;cutie with attention on every detail, including smart upgrades such as a luxurious spa retreat in the master suite and a&nbsp;gourmet kitchen.</p>
<p>
<strong>Walk through</strong><br />
Located at 5226 Mulford&nbsp;St. in the Lawndale subdivision, the quaint bungalow is framed by beautiful landscaping in front and a mature shade tree. Step inside to the formal living room anchored&nbsp;by the original mock fireplace with sconces above. Hardwood floors, crown molding and lots of windows for natural light continue throughout the home.</p>
<p>
An arched doorway, one of several in the house, adds&nbsp;architectural interest and serves as an invitation to the formal dining room, which is spacious enough for large-scale furniture pieces. An antique chandelier hangs in the center of the room.</p>
<p>
The gourmet kitchen, an attractive remodel in keeping with the character of the home, has custom cherry cabinets, top-of-the-line appliances, plenty of granite counter space for prepping and a custom-built pantry behind frosted glass doors. A window seat basks in natural light, and the room is ready for an island or bistro dining set. Two arched doorways lead to the comfortable den with walls of French doors and dual ceiling fans.</p>
<p>
The large master suite is truly a retreat, with the lavishly appointed bath and dressing area just steps away via French doors. Here, the wow factor goes up with sleek cabinetry, dual vessel sinks and designer hardware. A 5-by-7 foot&nbsp;mosaic glass tile shower comes with body sprays and rain shower head for a spa treatment everyday at home. Just off the bath is a walk-in closet and dressing area with numerous custom built-ins.</p>
<p>
A secondary bedroom is also light and airy and opens to&nbsp;a bright sunroom with a wall of built-ins. The guest bath features an antique vanity with vessel sink, beadboard walls and antique footed tub.</p>
<p>
<strong>Step outside</strong><br />
From the den, owners can enjoy the&nbsp;private side yard with deck and lush back yard. The green oasis is filled with benches and bird baths. An urban garden with&nbsp;Mexican river rocks, herbs and flowers adds to the outdoor appeal. The&nbsp;lot size is 5,400 square feet.</p>
<p>
<strong style="font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Square footage:</strong><span style="font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">&nbsp;2,018</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0em 0em 1em; padding: 0px; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<strong>Asking price: </strong>$329,900</p>
<p style="margin: 0em 0em 1em; padding: 0px; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<strong>Listing agent: </strong><a href="http://web.har.com/aws/aws.cfm?agent_number=298661">Robert Searcy</a>, <a href="http://web.har.com/aws/aws.cfm?agent_number=298661">Robert Searcy Properties</a></p>
Antiquing Power: Round Top Antiques Fair gets early start thanks to creative, vintage-loving Houston couple2015-03-26T09:19:00-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/home-design/03-26-15-antiquing-power-round-top-antiques-fair-gets-an-early-start-thanks-to-a-creative-vintage-loving-houston-couple/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/20/The-Vintage-Round-Top-booth-overall_090554.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
Gorgeous bluebonnets now blooming are not the only things singing praises to spring&nbsp;in Round Top.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.thevintageroundtop.com">The Vintage Round Top</a> booth, owned by Houstonians Paige and Smoot Hull, opens its doors during the <a href="http://www.roundtoptexasantiques.com">47th Original Round Top Antiques Fair</a> with an ode to nature theme, &quot;Flora and Fauna,&quot; featuring everything from pressed botanicals from Provence to glass-encased specimens of butterflies from a Lone Star State source to decorative moss to add a touch of green to your home. And there is much more &mdash; in its permanent space in <a href="http://www.roundtopvintagemarket.com">Round Top Vintage Market</a>, 1235 N. Highway 237.</p>
<p>
This year&#39;s shopping marathon runs April 1-4 in the quaint Texas town, but the Hulls have already started the celebration (going from&nbsp;9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today) and are extending their own marketplace dates through April 5.&nbsp;The couple returns to the annual spring antique extravaganza after two years in a temporary tent at <a href="http://www.roundtop-marburger.com">Marburger Farms Antique Show</a>.&nbsp;The darling duo now operates its permanent booth&nbsp;from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.</p>
<p>
&quot;We&#39;re offering a &#39;study in botany&#39; this year,&quot; Paige says. &quot;It&#39;s a play on spring, and we have objects from Provence to individual collectors here across Texas.&quot;</p>
<p>
She adds with a laugh, &quot;Shopping is an ongoing job, but what better situation to be in to hunt for shopping opportunities?&quot;</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>&quot;I like to find unique pieces that show not only authenticity, but origin, a sense of history and where they came from.&quot;<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
A recent tip led the Hulls to old warehouse filled with&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shudde.com/index.php">Shudde Bros.</a> hats, molds and other related vintage pieces untouched as the storage facility had been locked shut for 40 years. While most of the hats are now sold, with the last of them snatched up by buyers visiting The Vintage Round Top&#39;s <a href="http://www.thevintageroundtop.com">online retail boutique</a>, many of the wooden forms to shape head gear will be at the Hulls&#39; booth with price points at around $75 each. The couple displays the millinery pieces as plant holders, office organizers and as interesting home decor objects.</p>
<p>
Waiting for the warehouse to be emptied was an exciting adventure, Paige says, and much different from her trip to France, where flea markets take on a serious first-come, first-served attitude.</p>
<p>
&quot;Here, you get in your car, drive to the flea market and visit the tents,&quot; Paige says. &quot;In France, the flea markets are enormous and all over the place. You get there early to find big vans in the lot, the gates open at 8 a.m. and the vendors just start unloading the vans. It&#39;s a mad dash to see the items and get them before other shoppers do.&quot;</p>
<p>
Some of those treasures Paige did bring back that will be showcased at The Vintage Round Top include amber-hued glass&nbsp;apothecary jars at $135 for a set of three; French clay pots for $35 each; hand-carved&nbsp;wooden rosaries from&nbsp;the 1800s for $135 each; and many items with French labels or French writing on them.</p>
<p>
&quot;I like to find unique pieces that show not only authenticity, but origin, a sense of history and where they came from,&quot; Paige says. &quot;I&#39;m such a believer in purchasing vintage because they are often one-of-a-kind, they have a story and they have an energy to them from being handed down from family member to family member. Those are the pieces that become conversation pieces.&quot;</p>
<p>
Another fab discovery Paige brings to The Vintage Round Top are box sets filled with 150 individual pages of maps of Europe. These &quot;Carte De Cabinet Des Pays-Bas Autrichiens,&quot; as the beautiful labels say, can be kept as is or used as wallpaper, to decoupage, to frame or to show off in a large bowl or tray on a coffee table.&nbsp;</p>
<p>
And, of course, Paige continues to offer her popular accent pillows handmade from &quot;crazy quilts,&quot; a textile art that became popular in the late 1800s and produced a patchwork&nbsp;design using exotic pieces such of fabric like velvet, satin or silk. These fun additions to any home are joined by handmade Swiss Army-emblem accessories.</p>
<p>
&quot;Our overall look is French bohemian, industrial chic and vintage luxe,&quot; Paige says. &quot;And all our inventory can be placed in any style house in small doses, from cottage to traditional homes.&quot;</p>
<p>
After the spring market, Paige and Smoot are taking their school-aged children, also their No. 1 helpers at The Vintage Round Top and budding collectors themselves, on a vacation &mdash; and a shopping trip to Provence, Barcelona and Paris.</p>
<p>
&quot;We have it all scheduled for vacation time in between weekends at the flea markets. So we&#39;ll have a fresh load of new finds for the next show.&quot;</p>
A Houston market celebrates 30 years with powerful women: These designing ladies have secrets you can use2015-03-25T16:31:35-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/home-design/03-25-15-a-houston-market-celebrates-30-years-with-powerful-women-these-designing-ladies-have-secrets-you-can-use/
<img src="http://media.culturemap.com/crop/a4/bf/350x350/News-Shelby-Houston-Design-Center-August-2014_144141.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
Mark your calendars now for &quot;<a href="http://www.thehoustondesigncenter.com/ai1ec_event/leading-in-design-spring-market-2015/?instance_id=857">Leading in Design&nbsp;</a><a href="http://www.thehoustondesigncenter.com/ai1ec_event/leading-in-design-spring-market-2015/?instance_id=935">Spring Design Market</a><a href="http://www.thehoustondesigncenter.com/ai1ec_event/leading-in-design-spring-market-2015/?instance_id=857">&nbsp;2015</a>&quot; set for April 7 and 8&nbsp;at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thehoustondesigncenter.com">The Houston Design Center</a>.&nbsp;This year the center&#39;s celebrating its&nbsp;30th anniversary.</p>
<p>
Ready to address &quot;The Business of Design&quot; at the annual event are&nbsp;interior designers&nbsp;extraordinaire&nbsp;<a href="http://www.shabbychic.com">Rachel Ashwell</a>, <a href="http://www.janshowers.com/Interior-Design">Jan Showers</a> and <a href="http://westbrookinteriors.com">Barbara Westbrook</a>.&nbsp;Robin K. Mueck, president and CEO of <a href="http://www.heritagetexas.com">Heritage Texas Properties</a>, will moderate the panel discussion at 11 a.m. April 7 in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.alkusaristone.com">Alkusari Stone</a>&nbsp;showroom.</p>
<p>
A luncheon buffet follows the keynote program, with book signings and &quot;Design Confidential&quot; one-on-one talks with the luminaries starting at 1:30 p.m. Complimentary valet parking will be provided by <a href="http://www.momentumaudi.net/index.htm">Audi Central Houston</a>.</p>
<p>
Ashwell, the heart of shabby chic, gives her professional take on character-filled, time-worn and faded elegance bringing&nbsp;comfort and practicality to interiors. The Cambridge, England-born&nbsp;Ashwell will walk guests through her latest book, <a href="http://www.rizzoliusa.com/book.php?isbn=9780847844944"><em>The World of Shabby Chic</em></a>, published to mark her 25 years of offering this timeless&nbsp;style of decor to the marketplace. She is also in Texas to&nbsp;tend to her bed-and-breakfast in Round Top, <a href="http://www.theprairiebyrachelashwell.com">The Prairie</a>, during the 47th&nbsp;<a href="http://www.roundtoptexasantiques.com">Original Round Top Antiques Fair</a>.</p>
<p>
Showers, based in Dallas, masters the combination of a variety of periods to create comfortable, understated&nbsp;glamorous spaces. She finds inspiration for her interiors through art, travel, fashion, fine antiques and objects, as well as nature. Showers&#39; focus for the event is conversations on her book,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Glamorous-Retreats-Jan-Showers/dp/1419708538"><em>Glamorous Retreats</em></a>, a compilation&nbsp;showcasing her work in vacation locales across North America and the Caribbean, from the mountains of Colorado to the beaches of Florida and the Bahamas and to the ranches of Arizona and Texas.</p>
<p>
Atlanta design maven Westbrook, known for her Southern touches to antebellum mansions to modern urban high-rise condominiums, discusses her volume, <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/listing/2671634564718?r=1&amp;kpid=2671634564718&amp;cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-Book_45Up-_-Q000000633-_-2671634564718"><em>Gracious Rooms</em></a>.&nbsp;Her expertise and working with venerable talents such as <a href="http://houston.culturemap.com/news/home-design/10-27-14-how-to-achieve-luxurious-isimplicityi-interior-designer-offers-five-great-decorating-tips/">Nancy Braithwaite</a> and Gandy-Peace have earned her a style now compared to&nbsp;Chanel&rsquo;s little black dress: Effortlessly elegant, comfortably tailored and always classic.</p>
<p>
Throughout the two-day extravaganza, the Spring Design Market offers more free lectures, design seminars, continuing education and open houses. To sign up for any event, call the center at&nbsp;713-864-2660 or visit the website to fill out the online registration by clicking <a href="http://www.thehoustondesigncenter.com/ai1ec_event/leading-in-design-spring-market-2015/?instance_id=857">here</a>.</p>
This condo brings urban swank to River Oaks for under $700,000 — sexy views included2015-03-24T15:27:43-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-24-15-this-condo-brings-urban-swank-to-river-oaks-for-under-700000-sexy-views-included/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/20/On-the-Market-1914-W-Gray-St-301-March-2015_125056.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
<em>Editor&#39;s Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses and properties for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap snoops through some of the best and gives you the lowdown on what&#39;s hot on the market.</em></p>
<p>
Discover urban swank at its sexiest in a condo in&nbsp;<a href="http://www.visithoustontexas.com/travel-tools/houston-neighborhoods/river-oaks-upper-kirby/">River Oaks</a>&#39;&nbsp;<a href="http://metropolishouston.com">Metropolis&nbsp;Lofts</a>, a rare corner 3,084-square-foot unit large enough to center a pool table in the main room while leaving plenty of space for upscale entertaining.</p>
<p>
<strong>Walk through</strong><br />
Located at 1914 W. Gray St., unit 301 opens to soaring 19-foot ceilings with unobstructed views of downtown, the <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/blog/2015/03/texas-medical-center-accelerator-names-first-class.html">Texas Medical Center</a> and areas of <a href="http://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/02-25-15-battle-of-the-luxury-titans-galleria-lands-hot-designer-as-tussle-for-top-tenants-heats-up/">The Galleria</a>. The open floor plan flows with stained concrete flooring underfoot from the formal dining area to the living room or den, anchored by a massive but unobtrusive entertainment module,&nbsp;to two additional designated gathering areas with windows throughout.</p>
<p>
Lighted shelving with colorful collected objects adds to the contemporary decor.&nbsp;Of course, the pool table with designer pendant lighting above is a center of attention just beyond the den.</p>
<p>
The kitchen features&nbsp;a granite island kitchen and GE/Profile stainless appliances. The island has bar stool chairs for additional seating. The refrigerator is included in the sale, as are all&nbsp;draperies and window covers. Solar shades with a remote control allow the walls of windows to display the panoramic views or offer privacy. A first-floor full bathroom is complete with an oversized slate shower and vanity with sink and designer hardware.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>Exposed duct work throughout the condo adds to the chic Inner Loop loft experience.<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
Take the accent-red metal staircase to the second floor to find the secondary bedroom and the master suite. The enormous master suite has fresh carpeting and custom closets with built-ins. Another oversized slate shower is in the master bath. Exposed duct work throughout the condo adds to the chic Inner Loop loft experience.</p>
<p>
<strong>Step outside</strong><br />
All residents of Metropolis Lofts have access to the outdoor swimming pool. Unit 301 is assigned two reserved parking spaces with extra storage.</p>
<p>
<strong style="font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Square footage:</strong><span style="font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">3,084</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0em 0em 1em; padding: 0px; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<strong>Asking price:</strong>&nbsp;$689,000</p>
<p style="margin: 0em 0em 1em; padding: 0px; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<strong>Listing agent: </strong><a href="http://www.johndaugherty.com/ronbrown">Ron Brown</a>, <a href="http://www.johndaugherty.com">John Daugherty Realtors</a></p>
Historic downtown school building slated for demolition despite protests by former students2015-03-22T10:00:00-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/03-21-15-historic-downtown-school-building-slated-for-demolition-despite-protests-by-former-students/
<img src="http://media.culturemap.com/crop/12/e1/350x350/2-Incarnate-Word-Academy-1907-building-March-2015_124709.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
Salvageable&nbsp;bricks and a cross above <a href="http://www.incarnateword.org/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1">Incarnate Word Academy</a>&#39;s &quot;1905 Building&quot; are all that will likely soon be left of one of downtown Houston&#39;s most historic structures.&nbsp;The last of the city&#39;s architectural landmarks totally designed by famed 19th-century Texas architect <a href="http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fcl22">Nicholas J. Clayton</a> faces the wrecking ball soon.</p>
<p>
Despite protests and an <a href="https://www.change.org/p/incarnate-word-academy-repair-preserve-the-1905-n-j-clayton-bldg-at-incarnate-word-in-perpetuity-we-are-told-no-final-decision-has-been-made-but-the-lack-of-repair-and-continued-deterioration-tell-a-different-story?recruiter=74958139&amp;utm_campaign=mailto_link&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=share_petition">online petition</a> with more than 1,000 signatures from former students and preservationists in support of&nbsp;saving the structure, the five board members of Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, the organization that owns the building, said an estimated $300,000 rehabilitation project would not provide &quot;a structure adequate to the school&#39;s needs,&quot; the <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Incarnate-Word-Academy-plans-to-raze-historic-6139685.php">Houston Chronicle&nbsp;reports</a>.</p>
<p>
Rather, the three-story red-brick building at 609 Crawford St., cited by <a href="http://www.rice.edu">Rice University</a> architectural history lecturer <a href="http://arch.rice.edu/People/Faculty/Stephen-Fox/">Stephen Fox</a> as just one example of Clayton&#39;s &quot;late-19th century architectural exuberance,&quot; will be demolished and replaced with a new, $8.5 million, six-story structure expected to open for the 2016-2017 school year.&nbsp;</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>&quot;This building, along with two wood frame houses, the Foley and Cohn homes, represent the only surviving remnants of a vital area of the city once known as Quality Hill,&quot; anti-demolition spokesperson Catherine McDonald writes in the Change.org petition.&nbsp;<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
Renderings of the proposed facility have not yet been released, but officials said they plan to include some bricks and decorative features from the demolished building into the design.</p>
<p>
Workers placed a chain-link fence around the property last week. Scaffolding surrounds the structure as crews gut the insides of the building.</p>
<p>
Sister Lauren Beck, president of the teaching order and of the school,&nbsp;did not respond to numerous calls from CultureMap seeking comment, but she told the Chronicle, &quot;We do appreciate that this is an older building, but we have to look at the needs of the school. There is no more land down here and we are landlocked. While we loved having some of the old and some of the new, we decided that the building could not drive the mission of the school. The needs of the school come first.&quot;</p>
<p>
Clayton designed three buildings for the Houston school, the oldest Catholic high school in Houston: A 1873 convent, which was razed in the 1940s; a 1899 auditorium, which was demolished in 1970s; and the current classroom building.</p>
<p>
&quot;This building, along with two wood frame houses, the Foley and Cohn homes, represent the only surviving remnants of a vital area of the city once known as Quality Hill,&quot; anti-demolition spokesperson Catherine McDonald writes in the Change.org petition. &quot;Movers and shakers in business and politics lived there, and those who were Catholic sent their daughters to Incarnate Word. The history of the school, the neighborhood and the city are interwoven.&quot;</p>
<p>
McDonald says construction of the ball park, which involved blasting two stories below ground level and continuous pumping out of ground water, &quot;has impacted the surrounding blocks, particularly those buildings not sitting on modern foundations, which includes the 1905 Building.&quot;</p>
<p>
&quot;Foundation issues exist, which are getting worse because nothing is being done to correct them. Neglect, even benign neglect, can be as deadly to an old building as a wrecking ball. We need to act now to repair this architectural gem.&quot;</p>
<p>
The Change.org petition suggests an endowment be established &quot;that would address ongoing preservation without putting a financial burden on the Sisters.&quot;</p>
Brighten up your garden with whimsical butterfly, bird and frog ceramics and furniture2015-03-21T13:00:00-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/home-design/03-21-15-brighten-up-your-garden-with-whimsical-butterfly-bird-and-frog-ceramics-and-furniture/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/10/new-for-spring-gardens-MacKenzie-Childs-March-2015-Frog-Plant-Hanger_141420.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
Fluttering butterflies, singing birds, happy frogs and more are coming to your garden this spring, thanks to new whimsical and beautiful introductions to <a href="http://www.mackenzie-childs.com">MacKenzie-Childs</a>&#39; 2015 lineup.</p>
<p>
The skilled artisans at the company&#39;s Aurora, N.Y.-based production studio on a rural dairy farm once again offer handcrafted ceramics and furniture following the company&#39;s 30-year-plus tradition of creating&nbsp;one-of-a-kind works.&nbsp;Turn over a ceramic mug or platter or even a chair from MacKenzie-Childs, and you will see the stamps or marks of the artisans who contributed to the piece in each step of the process.</p>
<p>
MacKenzie-Childs also partners with best-in-class manufacturers all over the world to produce many of their other home and outdoor decor products.</p>
<p>
Of course, the trademark &quot;courtly check,&quot; either in the familiar black-and-white scheme or variations of colors, is the most recognizable pattern on any&nbsp;MacKenzie-Childs creation.</p>
<p>
We selected our top favorite picks for Houston gardens from MacKenzie-Childs&#39; latest and expansive look book, while all pieces are available <a href="http://www.mackenzie-childs.com">online</a> or through <a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com">Neiman Marcus</a>.</p>
<p>
<strong>Butterfly Watering Can</strong><br />
Tending to the flower beds is no small chore, and the new Butterfly Watering Can keeps gardeners prepared to give their plants a much-needed sprinkle. The essential tool of cast iron with verdigris patina shows gardening may mean getting your hands dirty, but there&rsquo;s no reason you can&rsquo;t do it with style.</p>
<p>
The one-gallon watering can is 6 inches wide, 21.25 inches long and 14.5 inches tall. $100.</p>
<p>
<strong>Frog Plant Hanger</strong><br />
Crafted of cast metal with a rustic green patina, this amphibian accessory livens up a traditional patio or porch and is joined by other whimsical pieces in the new Outdoor Frog Collection. No need to go out on a limb to present your petunias. The Frog Plant Hanger is always happy &mdash; or make that &quot;hoppy,&quot; as the folks at MacKenzie-Childs say &mdash; to offer a bit of help.</p>
<p>
The hanger, made of aluminum with verdigris patina, is 4.5 inches wide, 12 inches tall and 13 inches deep and can hold a suspended 25 pounds. $100.</p>
<p>
<strong>Belfry Birdhouse</strong><br />
Give your feathered friends a sturdy and fashionable home with the Belfry Birdhouse. The&nbsp;durable metal tower is hand-painted with pastel checks, soft stripes and bold color-dragged chevron. The birdhouse is 28 inches tall and about 7 inches square. Priced at $200, the accent piece and home should be wiped clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent if necessary.</p>
<p>
<strong>Flower Market Outdoor Square Ottoman &amp; More</strong><br />
The fanciful new Flower Market Outdoor Square Ottoman creates an instant garden party wherever you plant it. Hand-woven, the accessory is of all-weather resin wicker accented with black and white on the wrought iron frame. The cushion is upholstered in Flower Market floral bouquet fabrics and trimmed with verdant fringe.</p>
<p>
The bench is 28 inches wide, 18 inches tall and 22 inches deep. $750.</p>
<p>
Other pieces in the Flower Market collection include the outdoor loveseat, $2,500, and the outdoor wing chair, $2,995.&nbsp;</p>
<p>
<strong>Butterfly Garden Enamelware</strong><br />
Now that your garden&#39;s looking even more beautiful, enjoy a bite to eat al fresco using MacKenzie-Childs&#39; fresh color introduction to its Butterfly Garden enamelware: Sky. The blue hue mixes perfectly with the existing white butterfly and parchment check dishes. And each butterfly is once again hand-applied showing off a MacKenzie-Childs&#39; pattern.</p>
<p>
The enamelware is heavy-gauge steel with bronzed stainless steel rim. Charger or large plate, $48 each; dessert plate, $36 each.</p>
Stunning West U home designed by noted architect features catwalks and bird's-eye views2015-03-19T11:08:03-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-19-15-stunning-west-u-home-designed-by-noted-architect-features-catwalks-and-birds-eye-views-1/
<img src="http://media.culturemap.com/crop/03/23/350x350/On-the-Market-6416-Sewanee-March-2015-living-room_073815.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
<em>Editor&#39;s Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses and properties for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap snoops through some of the best and gives you the lowdown on what&#39;s hot on the market.</em></p>
<p>
Created in 1977 by noted Houston architect <a href="http://tomwilsonarchitect.com">Tom Wilson</a> as his personal residence, this <a href="http://www.westutx.gov">West University</a> home showcases masterful contemporary design with soaring ceilings and the feeling of spaciousness, smart inclusion of interesting features such as catwalks and step-downs and the perfect combination of glass, metal and wood and other natural materials.</p>
<p>
The house at 6416 Sewanee Ave. is on the market at $1,450,000 by the seller who purchased Wilson&#39;s home 17 years ago.</p>
<p>
<strong>Walk through</strong><br />
Located on a 7,500-square-foot lot, which is large for the area, the two-story structure subtly earns attention from the street with its modern stance in aluminum and stucco nestled within mature trees and an artistically landscaped yard. A step inside reveals the sunken formal living room with floor-to-ceiling windows and industrial light fixtures. Step up to the formal dining area with high ceilings,&nbsp;wood-paneled walls and original tile flooring. Overhead throughout the first floor are catwalks taking owners to upstairs rooms and a dramatic vaulted ceiling with large windows that crown the airy home.</p>
<p>
Built-ins are everywhere, including in the galley-style kitchen with window seating overlooking the back yard and lap pool. A breakfast table centers the space, as the kitchen layout offers plenty of counter space for prepping and cabinets above for storage. Also downstairs is a half bath and wine storage closet.&nbsp;A <a href="http://www.bang-olufsen.com/en">Bang &amp; Olufsen</a> sound system is ready to provide music for any occasion.</p>
<p>
Upstairs via an open metal staircase is the second-floor landing with two secondary bedroom space nearby. A ladder leads to a generous-sized loft space. One of the bedrooms is now designated as an office and features designer lighting and floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves. Carpet throughout the second floor was just recently replaced, and walls everywhere have a fresh coat of paint.</p>
<p>
The master bedroom is light and bright with a wall of windows, and the master bedroom includes a granite-topped vanity with designer hardware and oversized soaking tub/shower. A&nbsp;second-floor screen porch offers panoramic views amid the trees and makes one feel like being in a birdhouse. All draperies and other window coverings are included in the sale.</p>
<p>
<strong>Step outside</strong><br />
A covered deck with built-in seating anchors one end of the green space in back, while a lap pool stretches under an arching metal sculpture above at the other. The back yard is professionally landscaped, with large pecan trees lining the stucco privacy fence.</p>
<p>
An open house is scheduled noon-2 p.m. on Sunday.</p>
<p>
<strong>Square footage:</strong> 2,877</p>
<p>
<strong>Asking price:</strong> $1,450,000</p>
<p>
<strong>Listing agent:</strong> <a href="http://www.har.com/AWS/AWS.CFM?AGENT_NUMBER=526511">Virginia Andrews Jackson</a>, <a href="http://www.greenwoodking.com">Greenwood King Properties</a></p>
Own an AstroWorld memory: Crazy theme park items for sale, include rules of Mayan Mindbender 2015-03-17T16:02:11-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/home-design/03-17-15-own-an-astroworld-memory-crazy-theme-park-items-for-sale-include-rules-of-mayan-mindbender/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/17/Astroworld-Houston-Texas-Tram-eBay-March-2015_133212.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
Bidders looking to fill that huge theme-park void left since&nbsp;<a href="http://houston.culturemap.com/news/innovation/01-04-15-big-ideas-for-2015-four-grand-visions-that-will-transform-houston-from-new-astroworld-to-a-swimming-hole/">AstroWorld</a>&nbsp;closed in 2005&nbsp;can now land some&nbsp;big &mdash; and big-ticket &mdash; souvenirs.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.ebay.com/usr/thetexasantiquehunter?_trksid=p2047675.l2559">TheTexasAntiqueHunter</a> is offering to sooth that pain of nostalgia,&nbsp;not just with trinket stained coffee mugs, &quot;collector&quot; ashtrays and faded, bent postcards. We&#39;ve selected our top five big-ticket favorites from the seller&#39;s inventory, currently being offered on <a href="http://www.ebay.com/usr/thetexasantiquehunter?_trksid=p2047675.l2559">eBay</a>&nbsp;by the Sugar Land vendor, &nbsp;to share with fellow amusement park lovers. Maybe one of these iconic pieces of playtime history will hold you over until the <a href="http://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/11-07-13-the-new-astroworld-sets-an-opening-date-houstons-next-theme-park-to-blast-off-in-2015/">new AstroWorld</a>&nbsp;opens.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Astroworld-Houston-Texas-Tram-/161633356442?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&amp;hash=item25a2194a9a"><strong>Texas Tram</strong></a><br />
Remember excitedly climbing aboard one of these multi-person seaters&nbsp;to get whisked away&nbsp;to never-never land? And how it came to your rescue at closing time after you&#39;d just walked &mdash; with dashes for rides in between &mdash; a marathon in the park?</p>
<p>
Now, you can have your own Texas Tram, listed as &quot;used,&quot; for $8,000. Almost 30 buyers have their eyes on this baby, with just about a day left before bidding closes.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Six-Flags-Astroworld-Houston-Gondolas-/161622893824?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&amp;hash=item25a179a500"><strong>Gondolas</strong></a><br />
Ten gondolas, of course no longer connected to the Alpine AstroWay, are up for sale at $2,000 each. At last look, more than 40 people were interested in these people carriers. Just wondering: What are their plans for the buckets in the sky? Whatever those ingenious ideas are, you can bet one thing: New owners can forget park rules and rock and smooch in their gondolas all they want.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Astroworld-Houston-Texas-Treasure-Chest-/161633379294?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&amp;hash=item25a219a3de"><strong>Treasure Chest</strong></a><br />
Maties, eBay doesn&#39;t have bartering in its code, so hand over the pieces of eight &nbsp;&mdash; $1,200 in U.S. dollars, that is. Yes, a giant treasure chest secured with lock and chains from Astroworld. Fewer than 10 people have added this pirate&#39;s dream to their watch list, so there&#39;s hope. Maybe more will join the crew, as who know what&#39;s inside?</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Sixflags-Astroworld-Houston-Water-Wheel-/161620705764?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&amp;hash=item25a15841e4"><strong>Water Wheels</strong></a><br />
A 12-foot-tall and a 7-foot-tall water wheel could easily be repurposed as centerpiece garden fixtures. The inquiries about these wooden water wonders are growing. Act now for the large wheel at $4,500 and the smaller, $3,500.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Astroworld-Mayan-Mind-Bender-Ride-Rules-Sign-/161639680676?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&amp;hash=item25a279caa4"><strong>Mayan Mindbender&nbsp;Rules</strong></a><br />
Rules, rules, rules sometime took some of the fun out of AstroWorld, especially when you were denied entrance to a ride because you didn&#39;t add up to the measure meter. But rules for the kiddie coaster Mayan Mindbender? Priceless, especially since some of the rules have changed with age: &quot;You Must Be 2,&quot; &quot;Pregnant Men&quot; and &quot;No Oking.&quot; Asking price for the metal plaque is $550.</p>
<p>
And you can always buy it now.</p>
Upscale Heights townhomes in gated community planned for neartown industrial site2015-03-17T13:07:49-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-17-15-studemont-heights-townhomes-planned-for-old-the-detering-co-site/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/17/Studemont-Heights-townhomes-rendering-March-2015_112412.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
Studemont Heights, a new gated community of 25 three-story brick- and cement board-sided homes &quot;reminiscent of the classic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownstone">brownstones</a> of other metropolitan cities like London, New York and Chicago,&quot; according to a press release,&nbsp;is coming to a portion of the former site of <a href="http://www.detering.com">The Detering Co.</a>&nbsp;near&nbsp;Washington Avenue and Studemont&nbsp;Street.</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.sbbtexas.com">Sullivan Brothers Builders</a> recently made the announcement, adding it is in process of wrapping up the infrastructure for the development at 2900 Hicks St.&nbsp;The townhouses are now available through pre-construction sales with the first homes being complete this summer.</p>
<p>
Priced in the mid-$500,000s, each Studemont Heights home will have three bedrooms and three and one-half baths with 2,200 to 2400-plus square feet of living space. Many of the homes will have views of downtown.</p>
<p>
&quot;Sullivan Brothers Builders&#39; stringent and thoughtful building practices will offer a low maintenance and beautiful home that will achieve a highly regarded LEED certification,&quot; Karen Travelstead, director of sales, says in a statement.</p>
<p>
The <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/sarnoff/article/Washington-Avenue-landmark-trades-hands-after-6133766.php?t=a2a52478453b9e5e12&amp;cmpid=twitter-premium">Houston Chronicle reports</a>&nbsp;that the&nbsp;5.4 acre Detering property&nbsp;was divided into three segments, each&nbsp;sold to a different buyer. In addition to the Sullivan Brothers development,&nbsp;Dallas-based apartment developer <a href="http://www.jlbpartners.com/">JLB Partners </a>bought almost 3 acres and an undisclosed buyer is scheduled to close on a&nbsp;site fronting Washington Avenue at the end of the month.</p>
Central Park in west Houston? Energy Corridor master plan envisions massive world-class green space2015-03-17T11:12:28-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/03-17-15-central-park-in-west-houston-energy-corridor-master-plan-envisions-massive-world-class-green-space/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/13/Energy-Corridor-District-traffic-highway_104208.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
West Houston, namely <a href="http://www.energycorridor.org">The Energy Corridor District</a>, is&nbsp;ready for its own version of <a href="http://www.centralparknyc.org">Central Park</a>.</p>
<p>
&quot;The idea is to create a regional destination for recreation, arts and events,&nbsp;while creating enhanced riparian ecology, greater connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists, better-performing stormwater drainage and grand, delightful parks that neighbors and employees in The Energy Corridor District can enjoy,&quot; Clark Martinson,&nbsp;general manager for the district, writes in the area&#39;s February <a href="http://www.energycorridor.org/newsletter/article/could-a-central-park-be-in-the-energy-corridors-future/february-2015">newsletter</a>. &quot;It could be The Energy Corridor&rsquo;s own version of Central Park, straddling the ecological corridor along Langham Creek.&rdquo;</p>
<p>
The newsletter goes on to identify&nbsp;Langham Creek stretching from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addicks_Reservoir">Addicks Dam</a>&nbsp;spillway to <a href="http://www.terryhersheypark.org">Terry Hershey Park</a> as &quot;ripe for just such a transformation,&quot; with those conclusions coming after stakeholders&#39; most recent ongoing master plan meeting with urban and landscape experts from <a href="http://www.sasaki.com">Sasaki Associates</a>, <a href="http://www.ojb.com">The Office of James Burnett</a>&nbsp;and <a href="http://www.tooledesign.com">Toole Design Group</a>. The final plan is to be revealed sometime this spring.</p>
<p>
On the drawing board for the master plan are:</p>
<ul>
<li>
An ecological center with a pond, public spaces with lawns and restrooms along Langham Creek just north of Memorial Drive as a place for public art, concerts and festivals.</li>
<li>
A spillway park below Addicks Dam with boardwalks, scenic overlooks and an archeological preservation area to showcase the natural and cultural history of The Energy Corridor.</li>
<li>
Pedestrian bridges over Langham Creek and boardwalk bike trails to enhance connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists to convenient entry points along popular thoroughfares.</li>
<li>
A neighborhood park with a community garden, playground, sports fields and picnic areas complete with barbecue grills east of the creek and south of Interstate 10.</li>
</ul>
<p>
&ldquo;The already popular Terry Hershey Park and Langham Creek corridor could evolve into world-class parks,&rdquo; Martinson says. &ldquo;Great parks become a destination, not only for people and communities, but also for wildlife. Transformational ideas such as these can help make The Energy Corridor an even better place to work, live and invest to years to come.&rdquo;</p>
Not so fast: New owner puts $1 billion Uptown Park redevelopment plans on hold2015-03-16T14:55:33-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-16-15-not-so-fast-new-owner-puts-1-billion-uptown-park-redevelopment-plans-on-hold-1/
<img src="http://media.culturemap.com/crop/a1/56/350x350/Uptown-Park-rendering-April-2014_102151.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
A change in ownership of development companies, as well as the drastic drop in oil prices, have moved new property holders to reevaluate a $1 billion plan to transform <a href="http://www.uptownparkhouston.com">Uptown Park</a>.</p>
<p>
Officials with the complex&#39;s new owner, <a href="http://edens.com">Edens Investment Trust</a>, announced the pause, almost a year after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amreit">AmREIT</a>, a Houston-based real estate investment trust and the former owner, revealed an ambitious plan to make over a wide swath of&nbsp;the shopping and dining destination located along the West Loop at Post Oak Boulevard.</p>
<p>
As a private company, &quot;we can afford to take a longer-term view,&quot;&nbsp;Edens chairman and CEO Terry Brown told the <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/sarnoff/article/Washington-Avenue-landmark-trades-hands-after-6133766.php#photo-7656095">Houston Chronicle</a>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>
The $1 billion redevelopment, announced by AmREIT officials in February 2014, planned to turn Uptown Park into a denser urban center. The existing one-story shops and restaurants were to be demolished at a gradual pace and replaced with taller buildings that yield more revenue. The transformation of the 17-acre site was expected to take years.</p>
<p>
Edens, headquartered in Columbia, S.C., recently acquired AmREIT for $763 million, according to&nbsp;<a href="http://realtynewsreport.com/tag/edens/">RealtyNewsReport</a>. Edens develops, owns and operates community-oriented shopping places in primary markets in the East Coast.</p>
<p>
Edens officials said it is too early to know when the Uptown Park master plan will be completely reevaluated, according to reports.</p>
<p>
The master plan had called for a 16-story multifamily residential project known as The Palazzi at Uptown Park, a 40-story, 350-unit residential tower with two stories of retail called the Courtyard at Post Oak, and a four-star hotel and mixed use project called The Tower at Uptown Park.</p>
<p>
Uptown Park was developed by <a href="http://www.interfin.com">Interfin</a> and purchased by AmREIT in 2005. The center&#39;s current tenants include <a href="http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/Locations/houston-texas/houston-texas/uptownparkboulevard.aspx">McCormick &amp; Schmick&rsquo;s</a>, <a href="http://mpenner.com">M Penner</a>, <a href="http://eaewhouston.com">Elizabeth Anthony</a>, <a href="https://www.cravecupcakes.com">Crave Cupcakes</a>, <a href="http://www.uptownparkhouston.com/tenants/cafe-express">Caf&eacute; Express</a> and about 40 other stores and eateries in the 169,000 square feet of retail space.</p>
The ultimate beach house: Designers craft a big blue Galveston stunner, right down to the fancy bunk beds2015-03-14T12:02:00-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/home-design/03-14-15-the-ultimate-beach-house-designers-craft-a-galveston-stunner-right-down-to-the-fancy-bunk-beds/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/23/interior-design-Laura-Umansky-Crystal-Beach-beach-house-March-2015_130857.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
A yesteryear&nbsp;<a href="http://bigchill.com/product-category/refrigerators/">Big Chill</a> refrigerator in cerulean was absolutely the only choice for the bright white kitchen of a new Galveston-area beach house and became the inspiration for the sky-blue decor now cheering the rest of the happy getaway.</p>
<p>
&quot;Who doesn&#39;t love a Big Chill refrigerator?&quot; asks Laura Umansky of <a href="http://www.laurauinteriordesign.com">Laura U Interior Design</a>, who along with designer teammate Jillian Flynn just recently completed the Crystal Beach retreat for a return client. &quot;This retro element was the perfect pop of color and really helped to drive the cerulean blue hue used in the adjacent breakfast area, as well as in the rest of the home, including the exterior color palette.&quot;</p>
<p>
Umansky and Flynn worked with the client from the ground up on the new construction project, including the interior and furnishings from start to finish to the full design of the kitchen &mdash; even to the dishes that now sit in the cabinets. The goal: To create a functional, comfortable retreat with a fresh color palette for a clean, classic coastal look without breaking the bank.&nbsp;The homeowner also desired to make the beach house a place where she could host several out-of-town guests at one time.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>&quot;We designed the bunk beds custom, and they were site-built by the home builder.&quot;<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
&quot;The kitchen was our favorite room to design,&quot; Umansky says. &quot;We really brought to life our coastal design inspiration by mixing elements of the sea with classic white cabinetry. For the countertops, we incorporated a gorgeous quartz countertop containing both seashells and recycled glass in hues of lovely blues and greens. This was complimented perfectly by a high-gloss white tile backsplash and blown glass pendants over the island.&quot;</p>
<p>
In keeping with the casual vibe, open shelves in a driftwood finish were installed at either side of the vent hood for storing dishes, platters and other kitchen items. And to accommodate their dog-loving client, the designing duo ordered built-in dog bowls at one end of the island where the pets can easily access their food and water. &nbsp;</p>
<p>
<strong>Designers&#39; notes:</strong> The kitchen countertops are from <a href="http://vetrazzo.com/eng">Vetrazzo</a>&nbsp;and are in Bretagne&nbsp;Blue. The breakfast table chandelier is the Alberto Orb from <a href="http://www.curreycodealers.com">Currey &amp; Co.</a></p>
<p>
A great&nbsp;zig-zag&nbsp;rug in&nbsp;waves of colors from magenta to creams anchors the living room. Here, a mix of furniture pieces from retail&nbsp;outlets and&nbsp;to-the-trade vendors&nbsp;keeps the area very comfortable &mdash; and very livable. Glass- and coral-based lamps, a round metallic coffee table for a bit of shine and accent pillows in shades of blue&nbsp;create a collected feel.</p>
<p>
<strong>Designers&#39; notes:</strong>&nbsp;&quot;The rug came from one of our favorite vendors, <a href="http://loloirugs.com/home/">Loloi</a>,&quot; Umansky says.</p>
<p>
In the master bedroom,&nbsp;cerulean is joined by another natural color: Driftwood.</p>
<p>
&quot;We wanted this space to truly be a retreat for our client and really have its own identity while also flowing with the rest of the home,&quot; Umansky says. &quot;The hues of brown were inspired by driftwood and the lighting by sea glass. As seen in other spaces throughout home as well, the wall paneling in this bedroom added an additional level of interest and only further complimented the furnishings.&quot;</p>
<p>
<strong>Designers&#39; note:</strong> The lounge chair in the master bedroom is&nbsp;the Ava by <a href="http://www.selamatdesigns.com">Selamat</a>.</p>
<p>
And to ensure that family and friends would have a comfortable place to stay on their vacations here, Umansky and Flynn turned to custom bunks in two of the four rooms to sleep as many guests as possible in a cozy way.</p>
<p>
&quot;We designed the bunk beds custom, and they were site-built by the home builder,&quot; Umansky&nbsp;says. &quot;They fit perfectly with the aesthetic of the home and really play up the idea of a comfortable beach retreat.</p>
<p>
&quot;The wall sconces are from one of our favorite lighting vendors, and we loved them because they reminded us of something you&rsquo;d find on a ship. The bathroom mirror just complimented the space perfectly.&quot;</p>
<p>
<strong>Designers&#39; notes:</strong>&nbsp;The wall sconces are Iris by <a href="https://www.robertabbey.biz/lighting/designs.aspx">Robert Abbe</a><a href="http://www.robertabbey.biz/lighting/designs.aspx">y Inc.</a>, while the bathroom mirror is from <a href="http://www.noirfurniturela.com">Noir Furniture</a>.</p>
<p>
Umansky said she and Flynn did shop locally for many of the accessories found throughout the&nbsp;4,961-square-foot, four-bedroom beach house, including at <a href="http://www.theadmiralty.net">The Admiralty</a> in Galveston, where initial and even last-minute great finds helped pull the home together.</p>
<p>
&quot;We wanted to get it completed in time for the return of sunny, warm weather,&quot; Umansky says.</p>
Celebrity beloved ceramic art makes a dinner table comeback: New leafy collection channels the 1960s2015-03-13T12:02:00-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/home-design/03-13-15-celebrity-beloved-ceramic-art-makes-a-dinner-table-comeback-new-collection-channels-the-1960s/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/11/1-Tory-Burch-leaf-collection-March-2015_125459.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
If a sweet, sweeping sense of&nbsp;deja vu&nbsp;envelopes you when looking at <a href="http://www.toryburch.com">Tory Burch</a>&#39;s brand-new line of lettuce- and cabbage-inspired dinnerware perfected in collaboration&nbsp;with&nbsp;noted Palm Beach potter <a href="http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/entertainment/meet-the-pottery-queen-of-palm-beach-county/nMPbq/">Dodie Thayer</a>, then thank yourself, your mother or even your grandmother for sophisticated taste.</p>
<p>
The original extra-special springtime ceramic artworks stand as favorites among collectors&nbsp;such as&nbsp;the late fashion trendsetter <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/jacqueline-kennedy-onassis-9428644">Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis</a>, international best-dressed <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/10/nyregion/c-z-guest-beauty-who-rose-to-top-of-new-york-society-dies-at-83.html">C.Z. Guest</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallis_Simpson">Duchess of Windsor</a>, as well as actress, socialite and philanthropist <a href="http://dinamerrill.com">Dina Merrill</a>.</p>
<p>
And now Burch&nbsp;brings the iconic 1960s&nbsp;look to your vernal tabletop with updated molding and a bright green hue in her latest for-the-home introduction.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.toryburch.com/home/dodie-thayer-for-tory-burch/?icampid=hp_mbn">Dodi&nbsp;Thayer for Tory Burch</a>&nbsp;is a&nbsp;garden party of six lettuce-inspired, hand-detailed and glazed ceramic plates, bowls and cups and saucers, along with complementing linens ready to complete the tablescape.</p>
<p>
The collection, designed in partnership with the potter-to-high society, is now available <a href="http://www.toryburch.com/home/dodie-thayer-for-tory-burch/?icampid=hp_mbn">online</a>&nbsp;and at select boutiques nationwide, including Burch&#39;s Houston shop.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>&quot;Each piece was a labor of extraordinary love &mdash; two weeks start to finish.&quot;<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
Burch, also an avid collector of Thayer&#39;s creations, was first drawn to the organic designs by the particular shade of green Thayer used,&nbsp;Duncan Irish Green, as well as the artistic quality of the handmade objects that now disappear in minutes at antique stores and auctions.</p>
<p>
&quot;Each piece was a labor of extraordinary love &mdash; two weeks start to finish,&quot; Burch emails CultureMap about the&nbsp;popular ceramics fashioned by the &quot;Pottery Queen of Palm Beach County.&quot;</p>
<p>
&quot;Every Thursday night, she would glaze a set of pieces, which would dry by morning. On Fridays, she would drive them into Palm Beach to the boutique Au Bon Gout, through which she would sell. Afterwards, she would have a wonderful lunch with friends at <a href="http://www.taboorestaurant.com">Ta-boo</a>.&quot;</p>
<p>
In 2013, Burch decided to contact Thayer to see if she would be interested in collaborating with her company.</p>
<p>
&quot;To my excitement, she said yes!&quot; Burch writes. &quot;And now, after two years of working with her and her family to make sure our Dodie Thayer for Tory Burch collection is how Mrs. Thayer would do it, I couldn&rsquo;t be more thrilled to introduce it.&quot;</p>
<p>
Dodie Thayer for Tory Burch includes lettuce ware dinner plates at $100 for a set of two, lettuce ware salad plates at $158 for a set of four, lettuce ware canape plates at $88 for a set of four, lettuce ware soup bowls at $148 for a set of four and lettuce ware cup and saucers at $120 for a set of two. Also in the collection are cocktail and dinner napkins, place mats and an assortment of tablecloths.</p>
<p>
&quot;I have always admired Dodie Thayer&rsquo;s lettuce ware &mdash; each piece is truly a work of art,&quot; Burch notes. &quot;I was honored when she agreed to collaborate with us on a pottery collection and working with her has been an incredible experience.</p>
<p>
&quot;She is a true American artisan and an extraordinary entrepreneur.&rdquo;</p>
Houston's Zen House: 1946 home renovated and revamped into a tranquil, luxury retreat2015-03-12T09:09:00-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-12-15-houstons-zen-house-1946-home-renovated-and-revamped-into-a-tranquil-luxury-retreat/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/08/On-the-Market-2412-Wichita-St.-March-2015_153539.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
<em>Editor&#39;s Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses and properties for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap snoops through some of the best and gives you the lowdown on what&#39;s hot on the market.</em></p>
<p>
An extensive renovation to a home on a quiet tree-lined street in&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside_Terrace,_Houston">Riverside Terrace</a> brings a Zen factor to the original 1946 structure. This runs throughout the residence and in the backyard, where an&nbsp;oversized spa with a waterfall is a highlight of the salt water swimming pool.</p>
<p>
<strong>Walk through</strong></p>
<p>
Custom-made steel-frame doors with exotic scroll detailing set the stage for the house at 2412 Wichita St., opening to the grand two-story entry and staircase with Asian-inspired banister and hand rails. Restored rich wooden flooring flows into the large living room with 9-foot ceilings. A center wood-burning fireplace serves as the focal point, and new energy-efficient, double-pane casement windows allow for natural light to fill the area.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>&nbsp;An&nbsp;oversized spa with a waterfall is a highlight of the salt water swimming pool.<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
An ornate entertainment bar with refrigerator, ice maker and sink is also readily at hand.&nbsp;The bar shares the same space with the formal dining room, where a wall of windows and French doors with access to the back gardens extends the length of the room.</p>
<p>
The custom kitchen, open to the dining area, includes cabinetry with bronze hardware, stainless steel appliances and concrete countertops. Updated electrical fixtures, such as track and recessed lighting, are found in this hub of the home.</p>
<p>
The master suite sits on the first floor and offers a built-in closet system and extended sitting niche. Highlights of the master bath include limestone floors, frameless glass shower and pedestal sink. Upstairs are the two additional bedrooms plus an office/study, all with hardwood flooring and ceiling fans and access to a second-story terrace. Two full baths with designer cabinetry, vanities and sconces are en suite.</p>
<p>
<strong>Step outside</strong><br />
A pergola defines the expansive patio, providing the perfect spot for entertaining with views of the landscaped backyard. Stone sidewalks lead to a <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2015/03/crystal_ballroom_portland_mcme.html">saltwater pool</a> and spa surrounded by Zen-like gardens.</p>
<p>
<strong style="font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Square footage:</strong><span style="font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">2,772</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0em 0em 1em; padding: 0px; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<strong>Asking price: </strong>$779,000</p>
<p style="margin: 0em 0em 1em; padding: 0px; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<strong>Listing agent: </strong><a href="http://web.har.com/AWS/AWS.CFM?AGENT_NUMBER=517864">Richard Ray</a>, <a href="http://www.johndaugherty.com">John Daugherty Realtors</a></p>
A new bigger jewel of a park for Houston? $100 million plan aims to make Memorial Park seem even larger2015-03-10T15:40:39-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/03-10-15-a-new-bigger-jewel-of-a-park-for-houston-100-million-plan-aims-to-make-memorial-park-seem-even-larger/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/03/10/Memorial-Park-master-plan-March-2015-Rendering-of-Sports-complex-by-Hartness-for-Nelson-Byrd-Woltz_112604.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
The long-range master plan for <a href="http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/ourparks/memorialpark.html">Memorial Park</a> is taking final shape with a proposed recreation complex grouping all playing fields, a natatorium to replace the outdoor pool for year-round swimming, a Memorial Grove dedicated to the fallen soldiers of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Logan">Camp Logan</a> and designated bike and pedestrian trails to keep traffic safe. Those are all components of reuniting the park while restoring ecosystems and making nods to history.</p>
<p>
Team members behind the plan presented the latest updates Tuesday at the ninth and final public hearing for the park&#39;s future, just a few weeks before the long-range master strategy will go to the city&#39;s <a href="http://www.houstontx.gov/council/c/Quality-of-Life-Committee">Quality of Life Committee</a>. The proposition is set to be submitted to the <a href="http://www.houstontx.gov/council/">Houston City Council</a> in April.</p>
<p>
&quot;We&#39;ve looked at the history, at each of the stories this park has to tell,&quot; Thomas Woltz, principal with <a href="http://www.nbwla.com">Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects</a>, said, referring back to the area&#39;s original use by Native Americans, an era of logging, the days of Camp Logan and to the Hoggs&#39;&nbsp;dedication of the property to the city. &quot;Our goal is to rebuild that ecology so to carry that history into the future.&quot;</p>
<p>
<strong>A Bridge Together</strong></p>
<p>
&quot;We first need to restitch the park back together,&quot; Woltz&nbsp;said. &quot;We want the park to feel bigger, to feel like you&#39;re in the middle of a continuous 1,500-acre park.&quot;</p>
<p>
The proposed grass- and tree-covered <a href="http://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/11-13-14-a-green-paradise-memorial-parks-100-million-makeover-promises-to-be-a-dream-for-bikers-and-walkers/">land bridge</a> spanning about 600 feet over six lanes of Memorial Drive is a big step in reconnecting the park, which is now divided by roads into about 25 pieces. It&#39;s also about&nbsp;organizing the activities within Houston&#39;s largest green space.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>Funding for the project is estimated to cost upwards of $100 million and take as long as 20 years.<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
&quot;We&#39;re bringing all the playing fields together to the north portion of the park, so that they can share the irrigation and maintenance they require,&quot; Woltz said, adding the fields will still include one rugby pitch, two volleyball courts, one soccer field, one baseball diamond, five softball diamonds and two croquet courts. No existing&nbsp;field will be removed prior to completion of the corresponding new facility.</p>
<p>
<strong>World War I History</strong></p>
<p>
New pine trees have already been planted to establish Memorial Groves, Woltz&nbsp;said, which is located on the site of Camp Logan.&nbsp;The long-range master plan designates interpretative markers, access paths, small picnic areas and parking for the area &mdash; without damaging or disturbing any remnants at the former World War I-era army training location.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>&quot;We want the park to feel bigger, to feel like you&#39;re in the middle of a continuous 1,500-acre park.&quot;<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
More components of the long-range master plan include dedicated-use trails, a children&#39;s play area, a new timing track at the running center, natatorium and 30 percent more parking achieved by redistribution.</p>
<p>
&quot;You&#39;ll also see major ponds being dug throughout the park,&quot; Woltz said. &quot;About 85 million gallons of drinking water are used to irrigate Memorial Park, and we know we can reduce that substantially.&quot;</p>
<p>
The <a href="http://houstonarboretum.org">Houston Arboretum and Nature Center</a>, which is part of Memorial Park, has embarked on its own master plan in conjunction with the park&#39;s proposal, Woltz said. The planners recognize the importance of the golf course, as well, and have identified it in their analysis.</p>
<p>
<strong>Road Work</strong></p>
<p>
None of the current roads accessing the park will be removed, and no additional entry points are included in the master plan, Woltz said. Within the park, some existing roadways will be realigned to create more useable park space. To the west, the plan calls for moving the segment of Memorial Drive between the railroad and Loop 610, and to the east, Memorial Loop Road will shift further east.</p>
<p>
The Department of Public Works has reviewed both&nbsp;proposed changes at a preliminary level.</p>
<p>
<strong>Hurricane Fighters</strong></p>
<p>
Woltz is leading the effort to vivify the grounds that were ravaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008 and by the droughts that have plagued Texas in recent years. He has surrounded himself with a team of 70-plus local ecology, history, archaeology, plant biology and more experts to assist in the massive undertaking.</p>
<p>
The <a href="http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/HPARD-Home-Page">Houston Parks and Recreation Department</a> began in 2011 to develop a long-term forestry management plan for the park, with then-ongoing drought serving as the driving force behind the initiative. In May 2013, the <a href="http://www.uptown-houston.com/about/page/uptown-tirz-uda">Uptown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone</a> boundary was expanded to include Memorial Park, and in September that same year, the privately funded <a href="http://www.memorialparkconservancy.org">Memorial Park Conservancy</a> selected Nelson Byrd Woltz to oversee the major undertaking to restore this 1,500-acre escape that attracts four million visitors each year.</p>
<p>
Funding for the project, estimated to cost upwards of $100 million and take as long as 20 years, is coming from the three entities.</p>
Dual personality: Historic Heights bungalow has a contemporary vibe inside2015-03-09T16:27:33-05:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-09-15-dual-personality-historic-heights-bungalow-has-a-contemporary-vibe-inside/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/02/24/2-On-the-Market-922-St.-Woodland-February-2015_090634.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
<em>Editor&#39;s Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses and properties for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap snoops through some of the best and gives you the lowdown on what&#39;s hot on the market.</em></p>
<p>
While the charming exterior keeps this 1940 <a href="http://www.woodland-heights.org">Woodland Heights</a> bungalow in sync with the historic neighborhood, the front door opens to a contemporary vibe inside and continues the party outside with multiple outdoor entertaining options.</p>
<p>
The house, located at 922 Woodland St., is now on the market with an asking price of $835,000.</p>
<p>
<strong>Walk through</strong><br />
The remodel about 10 years ago leaves polished hardwood floors, high ceilings and lots of windows and adds lofty spaces throughout. Enter into the cozy living area sharing a front room with the formal dining room. The custom kitchen is nearby, boasting a six-burner <a href="http://www.vikingrange.com/consumer/index.jsp">Viking</a> range, wine fridge, zinc-topped island with barstool seating, numerous prep stations and plenty of storage. A desk area sits at the far end of the extensive counterspace.</p>
<p>
The master suite occupies an entire wing at the back of the house with a loft bedroom overlooking a spacious sitting area and study opening to the covered deck from French doors. Two walk-in closets add to the amenities here, as does a master bath with dual vanities, oversized shower and claw-foot soaking tub. A stained glass window in the shower brings in natural light and makes a nod to the home&#39;s original styling.</p>
<p>
In total, the house offers three bedrooms and two full baths, as well as a detached guest house/studio.</p>
<p>
<strong>Step outside</strong><br />
The party begins here with outdoor living under a covered deck with stained wood flooring &nbsp;&mdash; an oasis perfect for relaxing and entertaining. The large lot still allows for a side yard&nbsp;with green space for any activities. A step-down from the porch leads around the corner to the lap pool surrounded by brick sidewalks and built-in planters. A cabana at one end of the pool provides more protected space. An additional bricked patio is located off the kitchen near the guest house.</p>
<p>
<strong>Square footage:</strong>&nbsp;2,155</p>
<p>
<strong>Asking price:</strong> $835,000</p>
<p>
<strong>Listing agent:</strong> <a href="http://www.har.com/AWS/AWS.CFM?AGENT_NUMBER=403146">Brad Shumway</a>, <a href="http://www.johndaugherty.com">John Daugherty Realtors</a></p>
Houston's cold weather cannot stop this flowery rite of spring: The Azalea Trail blooms on as it turns 802015-03-05T17:37:56-06:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/home-design/03-05-15-houstons-cold-weather-cannot-stop-this-flowery-rite-of-spring-the-azalea-trail-blooms-on-as-it-turns-80/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2013/03/05/Lynn_Herbert_River_Oaks_Garden_Club_A_Garden_Book_for_Houston_and_the_Texas_Gulf_Coast_March_2013_azaleas_Bayou_Bend_photo_RickGardner_THIS.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
The azaleas are here!</p>
<p>
Despite threatening cold temps and a dreary, almost sunless start to 2015, these rites of Houston&#39;s spring are blooming just in time to herald the 80th anniversary of the <a href="http://www.riveroaksgardenclub.org/site/">River Oaks Garden Club</a>&#39;s <a href="http://www.riveroaksgardenclub.org/site/AzaleaTrail.cfm">Azalea Trail</a>, which will take place Friday through Sunday at seven different locations following the theme, &quot;Celebrating for 80 Years ... Let&#39;s Dig In.&quot;</p>
<p>
&quot;They&#39;re looking great,&quot; Bart&nbsp;Brechter, curator of gardens at <a href="http://www.mfah.org/visit/bayou-bend-collection-and-gardens/">Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens</a>, tells CultureMap of Houston&#39;s most famous flowers. &quot;They&#39;re not in full bloom yet, but there&#39;s lots of color and plenty of azaleas.&quot;</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>&quot;What started 80 years ago as a means to educate the people of Houston, has now become the heralding symbol for spring.&quot;<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
Brechter said while azaleas aren&#39;t native to Houston, they do thrive in our environment when the mercury doesn&#39;t drop below 28 degrees and the plants are gradually warmed as we move toward spring. They usually bloom late-February through March, with some varieties even peaking through April.</p>
<p>
Credits&nbsp;for bringing these delicate, paper-thin flowers to the Bayou City most commonly go&nbsp;to <a href="http://www.tshaonline.org/publications/books/31531">Ima Hogg</a>, who is said to have planted the first azalea plants in Houston at her former home on the bayou, as well as to the now-closed <a href="http://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/01-03-10-leafing-a-legacy/">Teas Nursery</a>, which is noted as the first local gardening outlet to offer the perennials&nbsp;to customers. Now, horticulture&nbsp;centers throughout the area carry the well-loved bushes.</p>
<p>
In deed, a&nbsp;bouquet of hundreds of thousands azaleas presenting quite the show with breathtaking blooms in shades of pink, purple, white, red and yellow seems most apropos&nbsp;for this&nbsp;oldest and continually running azalea trail in the nation.</p>
<p>
<strong>The 2015 Trail</strong><br />
Trailblazers can tour two must-see public homes and garden destinations: Of course, Bayou Bend, as well as&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mfah.org/visit/rienzi/">Rienzi</a>. Admission is free to the&nbsp;historic <a href="http://www.riveroaksgardenclub.org/site/Forum.cfm">Forum of Civics Building</a>, home to the garden club&nbsp;and its formal gardens, where visitors are welcome to &ldquo;Ask the Experts&rdquo; for gardening advice.</p>
<p>
Owners of four private homes and gardens are opening their doors and garden gates for the floral spectacular, as well.</p>
<p>
Tour participants can enjoy this weekend-long event not only by admiring the azaleas,&nbsp;redbuds, dogwoods, camellias, paperwhites and tulips, but also by taking in&nbsp;beautiful interiors, amazing architecture and stunning landscapes. Watch for exquisite, hand-designed floral centerpieces strategically placed about, all made by members of the ROGC.&nbsp;</p>
<p>
Homes and gardens on tour are located at:</p>
<ul>
<li>
2923 Del Monte Drive</li>
<li>
3401 Sleepy Hollow Court</li>
<li>
5545 Tupper&nbsp;Lake Drive</li>
<li>
807 Briar Ridge Drive</li>
</ul>
<p>
Tickets to take the self-guided tour are $20 for six admissions and $5 for single-site visits. Tickets are available at <a href="http://www.randalls.com">Randalls</a>, <a href="http://www.berings.com">Berings</a>&nbsp;and at the River Oaks Garden&nbsp;Club,&nbsp;2503 Westheimer Road, or at the entrances to the destinations on the days of the trail.</p>
<p>
Proceeds from Azalea Trail help fund ROGC&rsquo;s mission: To restore, improve and protect the quality of Houston&rsquo;s environment through education, conservation and civic improvement.</p>
<p>
<strong>DIY Trail</strong></p>
<p>
Or perhaps you want to start your own azalea trail to add to the festivities. Plant azaleas from the pot or balled and burlap-wrapped in the fall to give the roots sufficient time to grow in Houston&#39;s cooler months, as detailed in&nbsp;<a href="http://houston.culturemap.com/news/home-design/03-07-13-river-oaks-garden-club-gets-organic-with-azalea-trail-here-venerable-group-touts-new-age-tips/"><em>A Garden Book for Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast</em></a>, written by Lynn M. Herbert.</p>
<p>
Azaleas like molasses added to Houston&#39;s slightly alkaline soil, so to help stimulate the roots, water the plant with a mixture of one ounce of the sticky stuff &mdash; either horticultural molasses or store-bought cooking molasses &mdash; to a gallon of water and mulch the beds with shredded pine park, pine needles, rotted leaves or a compost of about two inches deep.</p>
<p>
Keep the molasses ready to help the plants with their initial growth and for periodic sprayings if they look stressed. Azaleas like being well watered but not soaked, and they must have sunshine to form buds for their spring bloom. As you&#39;ll see on the official Azalea Trail, azaleas can grow into lush hedges as mass plantings, as surprise elements to mixed groupings or even as accents in large containers.</p>
<p>
<strong>Looking back . . . &nbsp;and forward</strong><br />
In 1927, a group of 27 residents sharing the same appreciation for horticulture &mdash; and probably all born with green thumbs &mdash; came together and organized the garden club. Eight years later, they celebrated gardening with all of Houston by hosting the first Garden Pilgrimage. That celebration later became the Azalea Trail.</p>
<p>
&quot;What started 80 years ago as a means to educate the people of Houston, has now become the heralding symbol for spring,&quot; the garden club <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-Oaks-Garden-Club/174040036029659">notes</a> on its Facebook page.</p>
A West U dream house? This "modest" $1.66 million home is packed with special amenities (and bathrooms)2015-03-03T12:34:23-06:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/03-03-15-a-west-u-dream-house-this-modest-166-million-home-is-packed-with-special-amenities/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/02/18/1-On-the-Market-6545-Brompton-Road-February-2015_100258.JPG" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
<em>Editor&#39;s Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses and properties for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap snoops through some of the best and gives you the lowdown on what&#39;s hot on the market.</em></p>
<p>
The charm of a two-story, painted brick home on a corner lot in <a href="http://www.westutx.gov">West University</a> goes beyond curb appeal and inside to an open floor plan for entertaining and family spaces for relaxing.</p>
<p>
The house, located at 6545 Brompton, is now for sale with a listing price of $1,665,000.</p>
<p>
<strong>Walk through</strong><br />
A light-filled entryway opens to the formal living room with recessed lighting, hardwood floors and gas log fireplace. The dining area overlooks the landscaped backyard and swimming pool. Two sets of French doors here lead to the outdoor escape. A well-appointed powder room is accessible to the main room as well to the mudroom for easy use from the pool.</p>
<p>
The kitchen in readily at hand via a step-up from the dining area and comes complete with slate countertops, large built-in island with butcher block top and porcelain farmhouse sink. Appliances include a <a href="http://www.vikingrange.com/consumer/index.jsp">Viking</a> six-burner gas range, <a href="http://jennair.com">Jenn-Air</a>&nbsp;double ovens and a <a href="http://www.subzero-wolf.com">Sub-Zero</a> refrigerator.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>The pool area is surrounded by a brick patio and is enclosed by a high privacy fence covered in vines.&nbsp;<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
The master suite is located on the first floor, where crown molding and a wall-to-wall seagrass rug extend to a bright sitting area with gas log fireplace and private exit through French doors to a covered porch. Plantation shutters and built-in bookshelves add to the ambiance. The recently renovated master bath has dual vanities, Carrera marble countertops and marble tile flooring.</p>
<p>
Upstairs, the family room awaits with recessed lighting, built-in bookshelves and hardwood floors. The other three bedrooms are on the second level, as are a home office and guest quarters with full bath. In total, the house has four full and one half baths. A spacious utility room sits at the top of the second-floor landing with lots of counter space and built-in desk area.</p>
<p>
<strong>Step outside</strong><br />
The pool area is surrounded by a brick patio and is enclosed by a high privacy fence covered in vines. The entire backyard is professionally landscaped with gardens and mature plants. The two-car garage is attached.</p>
<p>
<strong>Square footage:</strong> 5,005</p>
<p>
<strong>Asking price:</strong> $1,665,000</p>
<p>
<strong>Listing agent:</strong> <a href="http://www.har.com/AWS/AWS.CFM?AGENT_NUMBER=230927">Cathy Blum</a>, <a href="http://www.greenwoodking.com">Greenwood King Properties</a></p>
Houston's own European village? New luxury townhouse development includes its own showy canal2015-02-26T16:28:39-06:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/02-26-15-houstons-own-european-village-new-luxury-townhouse-development-includes-its-own-canal/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/02/26/Somerset-Green-gated-community-Hines-rendering-February-2015-Somerset-Pond_080130.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
<a href="http://www.somersetgreenhouston.com/home.html">Somerset Green</a>&nbsp;&mdash;&nbsp;a residential community designed to emulate a European village with three- to four-story luxury townhomes in Regency and Normandy architectural style which come complete with a canal, large pond, central gardens and parks &mdash; is rising&nbsp;on 46 acres inside Loop 610.</p>
<p>
A <a href="http://www.hines.com/home/default.aspx">Hines</a> development, the walled and 24-hour guarded&nbsp;neighborhood is scheduled to be completed this summer. Sales offices at the site will open sometime in March. Somerset Green is located at&nbsp;6900 Old Katy Road near <a href="http://www.starmotorcars.com">Star Motor Cars</a>, the <a href="http://www.houstonspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=homepage_new">Houston SPCA</a> and <a href="http://www.thehoustondesigncenter.com">The Houston Design Center</a>.</p>
<p>
The project includes about 500 homes ranging from 2,600 to 4,000 square feet with prices running from $500,000 to $800,000. The most expensive properties will front the canal. Rather than private yards, residents will have access to a swimming pool, formal gardens, entertainment venue, gardens, dog parks and views of Somerset Pond.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>The project includes about 500 homes ranging from 2,600 to 4,000 square feet with prices running from $500,000 to $800,000.<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
Along with Hines, <a href="http://www.coventryhomes.com/houston">Coventry Homes</a>, <a href="http://www.pelicanbuilders.com">Pelican Builders</a> and <a href="http://www.tollbrothers.com">Toll Brothers</a> are committed to building the homes at Somerset Green.</p>
<p>
&quot;Without ever having to leave the city, Somerset Green is conveniently minutes away from The <a href="http://www.houstonheights.org">Heights</a>, downtown, <a href="http://www.simon.com/mall/the-galleria">The Galleria</a> and <a href="http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/ourparks/memorialpark.html">Memorial Park</a>,&quot; the community&#39;s promotional material&nbsp;<a href="http://www.somersetgreenhouston.com/index.html">reads</a>.</p>
<p>
Hines <a href="http://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/10-08-13-british-style-community-to-rise-in-houston-big-name-developer-bets-on-high-priced-homes/">announced</a> the project in 2013 and started the initial phase of infrastructure in early 2014. The project is Hines&rsquo; first Houston single-family community in years, with most of the company&rsquo;s residential developments in Dallas.</p>
<p>
The company is&nbsp;mainly known for its skyscrapers gleaming across the globe.</p>
This $2.38 million ranch mansion gives new definition to turnkey: Talk about millionaire ready2015-02-26T11:01:00-06:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/02-26-15-this-238-million-ranch-mansion-gives-new-definition-to-turnkey-talk-about-millionaire-ready/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/02/25/1-On-the-Market-3606-Sun-Valley-Drive-February-2015_110507.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
<em>Editor&#39;s Note: Houston, the surrounding areas and beyond are loaded with must-have houses and properties for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap snoops through some of the best and gives you the lowdown on what&#39;s hot on the market.</em></p>
<p>
Just bring your toothbrush and your check book, because that&#39;s all you&#39;ll need to move into this &quot;Palo Verde Modernistic Rancher&quot; home in the <a href="http://www.woodsidecivicclub.org">Woodside</a> neighborhood. It&#39;s hit the market as a brand-new property listed at $2,368,000 million &mdash; including more than $250,000 in the existing furnishings and fixtures.</p>
<p>
<strong>Walk through</strong><br />
Built by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lewbonne/timeline">Lewdonne</a>, a 2007&nbsp;Houston-based home building company owned by Trey Lewis and Calvin Darbonne, the one-story house at 3603 Sun Valley Drive catches the eye with its slanted roof and stucco exterior accented with timber beams and walls of glass. Industrial light fixtures and a front cacti garden draw even more interest to the one-story wonder house situated on a near third-acre lot.</p>
<p>
A combination of exposed wood, brick walls and metal accents gives the residence a light-industrial and modern feel as first seen in the&nbsp;formal living room with centerpiece light fixture, seagrass area rug and matching oversized tufted chairs and couch. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring natural light into the comfortable room.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>Industrial light fixtures and a front cacti garden draw even more interest to the one-story wonder house.<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
Just beyond is the dining room with double floor-to-ceiling wine racks and track lighting. The butcher block table is surrounded by eight upholstered upright chairs and two canopy chairs for the hosts of the house.</p>
<p>
The open floor plan flows into the kitchen, where a giant island with pull-up chairs&nbsp;creates more seating for guests. High-end appliances are at hand, but seem to blend in with the rustic flair. Again, industrial light fixtures and exposed duct work make attractive nods to light-industrial style.</p>
<p>
The cozy den is anchored by a floor-to-ceiling brick surround framing the fireplace. Matching leather chairs and a complementary leather couch are arranged around a hide throw rug. Angular windows above bring in natural light. A media room occupies one area for home entertainment.</p>
<p>
Four bedrooms with bed frames and mattresses, draperies, light fixtures, mirrors and more are included with the house. The master suite boasts a most stunning sitting area in the bath complete with chandeliers, chaise lounges, dual vanities, seamless glass shower, soaking tub and plenty of storage shelves and drawer. The <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/real-estate/2015/02/01/tips-for-creating-walk-closet-from-scratch/m6zLEFCdh2pWarzIrYkJjM/story.html">walk-in closet</a> is also available in this suite.</p>
<p>
<strong>Step outside</strong><br />
A wooden deck with all-weather tables and chairs leads to the salt water swimming pool with fire pit and resort-style furnishings. The entire oasis is private via a tall wood fence. The three-car garage is detached.</p>
<p>
<strong>More bonuses:</strong> The washer, dryer and refrigerator are also included in the asking price. Energy features include insulated doors and windows, digital program thermostat&nbsp;and reflective roof. A sprinkler system is already installed.</p>
<p>
<strong style="font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Square footage:</strong><span style="font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">&nbsp;4,565</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0em 0em 1em; padding: 0px; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<strong>Asking price:</strong>&nbsp;$2,386,000</p>
<p style="margin: 0em 0em 1em; padding: 0px; font-family: Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', 'Palatino LT STD', 'Book Antiqua', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<strong>Listing agent:&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://cbunited.com/Houston/Agent/Detail/Jackie-Zehl/7027119">Jackie Zehl</a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://www.coldwellbanker.com">Coldwell Banker United - Bellaire</a></p>
EaDo game changer: New 12-story luxury tower with restaurants aims to shake up stadium land2015-02-26T08:14:00-06:00Barbara Kuntzhttp://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/02-26-15-eado-game-changer-new-12-story-luxury-tower-with-restaurantx-aims-to-shake-up-stadium-land/
<img src="/thumbnail/350x350/photos/2015/02/24/City-View-Terrace-EaDo-luxury-apartment-complex-rendering-February-2015_072036.jpg" alt="" class="right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;" align="right" hspace="15"/>
<p>
City View Terrace, a 12-story, 336-unit luxury apartment complex with ground-floor retail space, is coming to EaDo with hopes of becoming a catalyst for development in the area.</p>
<p>
Developer Premier Regional Center of Sugar Land is behind the move, setting a groundbreaking date sometime in April with estimated completion in 2017. The $60 million&nbsp;project is a joint venture between two business partners, Abdul Dawood and Dan Nip.</p>
<p>
&quot;The project is anticipated to generate over 700 jobs for Houston,&quot; a <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/2015/01/prweb12462775.htm">statement</a>&nbsp;promises, &quot;making a positive and pioneering step toward the revitalization of East Downtown Houston.&quot;</p>
<p>
City View Terrace will be located on a city block near the northeast intersection of Interstate 45 and Highway 59 and within close proximity to the <a href="http://www.houstontoyotacenter.com">Toyota Center</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bbvacompassstadium.com">BBVA&nbsp;Compass Stadium</a> and <a href="http://houston.astros.mlb.com/hou/ballpark/">Minute Maid Park</a>. The plans&nbsp;call for five floors of parking with seven floors of residential units above. Floor plans include one- to three-bedrooms from 700 to 1,200 square feet with units ranging in price from 1,750 to $2,750.</p>
<p>
The project is also set to include 45,000 square feet of retail and&nbsp;restaurants space on the ground floor. Shared amenities highlighted in the plans are a resort-style swimming pool, rooftop terrace, fitness center and a spa and sauna.</p>
<blockquote class="pull-quote">
<p>
<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span>The plans&nbsp;call for five floors of parking with seven floors of residential units above.<span style="display: none; ">&nbsp;</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
City View Terrace is being financed through a mix of sources, including the <a href="http://www.premierregionalcenter.com/premierregionalcenter-english/business-services-eb-5-program">EB-5</a> program, which Congress created in 1990 for qualified foreigners seeking to invest in a business that will benefit the U.S. economy and create or save at least 10 full-time jobs for U.S. workers. The employment-based preference immigrant visa is a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act.&nbsp;The basic amount required to invest is $500,000.</p>
<p>
&quot;With over 800 million dollars in commercial development to be completed by 2017, the current residential unit capacity in downtown will fall short of satisfying the ever-growing demand,&quot; a Premier Regional Center brochure about the property reads. &quot;For this reason, the city of Houston is welcoming needed residential projects like City View Terrace.&quot;</p>